One of our favorite places to visit in Wilmington NC is the New Hanover County Arboretum. The enchanting seven acre property is a wonderful place to stroll & be awed by their lovely Theme Gardens featuring our North Carolina native flora & fauna. The Arboretum gift shop The Potting Shed has unique items and books on NC gardening. Ken Wells, the Consumer Horticulture Director and his Master Gardener Volunteers provide a wealth of gardening information about what to grow, proper soil conditions, and are a great resource for trouble shooting plant problems.
Each March we look forward to the Arboretum Annual Plant Sale where we shop till we drop to stock our garden with native plants, trees, herbs and shrubs.
We are very excited that this fall the Arboretum will be host to its first annual (we hope) Arts in the Arboretum Festival, a two day event that will feature popular local artists and musical acts. In addition to art on canvas, artists from other mediums will be featured including sculptors, weavers, potters and basket weavers. All their exquisite creations will be available for sale.
The Ability Garden which facilitates gardening for groups and individuals who have a variety of physical and sensory abilities, will have plants for sale to benefit their wonderful Ability Garden program.
Tickets are just $ 5.00 Please come out and support this wonderful Wilmington NC resource.
You might enjoy these related posts:
Gardening Tips for Wilmington NC & Coastal Carolina Areas
Airlie Gardens Wilmington NC: A Nature Lovers Paradise
Landscaping Tips For Wilmington NC Area Homeowners
© Ginger Sala Wilmington NC Real Estate & Relocation
An absolutely beautiful October weekend is upon us, and the excitement is in the air as one of the Wilmington NC area's most popular events takesplace this weekend! Get ready for The Annual Riverfest Celebration! This year celebrating it's 30 years of Fun for all ages!
The Riverfest was born of the vision of a group of Wilmingtonians, interested in drawing people to the historical downtown area, decided to feature some artist, provide activities of interest to bring people to the downtown area in an effort to help revitalize business. Over the years the idea blossomed as the downtown area was revitalized and restored...
Riverfest has supported the Cape Fear Community College "Marine Technology Scholarship Program and has donated over close to $100,000.00 in an effort to assist students in various study programs. More than 200,000 attendees enjoy the festivities which bring awareness to the ecological importance of the Cape Fear River.
RIVERFEST 2008 HIGHLIGHTS
Extreme Skateboard Competition
LIVE ENTERTAINMENT
Bands perform Friday from 8-11pm, Sat: 11-11pm, Sunday 12 N -5:30
Other Attractions:
FIREWORKS: 9:05 pm on the River in Downtown Wilmington Saturday
Something for Everyone! Hope to see you there!
©Ginger Sala Wilmington NC Real Estate & Relocation Specialist
Wilmington NC has once again made the top ten list of America’s best performing cities in a study from the prestigious Miliken Institute an economic “Think Tank” based in California.
The judging criteria are based on cities job creation and ability to sustain employment. The calculations are based on five years and one year measurements of employment and salary growth.
The Raleigh-Cary Area of North Carolina also made the list at # 2
The top 10 cities for 2008 are:
1. Provo-Orem, Utah
2. Raleigh-Cary, North Carolina
3. Salt Lake City, Utah
4. Austin-Round Rock, Texas
5. Huntsville, Alabama
6. Wilmington, North Carolina
7. McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, Texas
8. Tacoma, Washington
9. Olympia, Washington
10. Charleston-North Charleston, South Carolina
Wilmington NC was also on the Miliken Top ten List in 2007!
Florida and California cities are significantly down this year in most part due to the slowdown in the housing market and construction industries. Michigan and Ohio had 9 of the 10 lowest performing cities as the Midwest area continues pn a long-term decline.
.More about the Miliken Institute From the Miliken Institute Website:
“The Milken Institute is a publicly supported, nonpartisan, independent think tank whose work makes a difference in the lives of people worldwide by helping create a more democratic and efficient global economy.
Wilmington NC Employers List ( top 25 Employers)
Good News for the Wilmington NC Real Estate Market
Ginger Sala Wilmington NC Relocation Specialist your source for Wilmington NC Real Estate.
My tribute to those who were lost in the 911 attacks, and to those they left behind. We lived in NY on that awful day. A friend lost his son in the twin towers, and a close friend was with the NYFD and in charge of recovering the remains.
I wrote a couple of songs in honor of that day. This one is about a widow of one of the heroes of flight 93.
We will never forget.
SEPTEMBER SKY
There was a bright September sky that day
They hugged so tight before he flew away
How could she have known
On that beautiful morn
They’d say their last goodbye
She thanks the Lord
That she was there
When his call came in
From the air
There was trouble on the plane,
Life would never be the same
How could she have known that day
They’d say their last goodbye
He left behind
Precious memories of
Of the joy he gave
His family
The photos of his radiant smile
Remind her of his love
And as the tears fall heavily,
Her heart is crushed
And yet it’s free
Knowing that they held
Each other tight that day
When they said their last goodbye
So hold your dear ones close each day
Don’t let love moments slip away,
You never know
When will come the day
You‘ll say your last goodbye
©Ginger Sala
image courtesy of stock.xchange.com
Independence Mall will once again play host to this years Cape Fear Habit for H
umanty Oktoberfest Family Festival.
If you haven't attended before come on out this year for a wonderful time and support of a terrific cause!
The Festival features fun for all ages including a 15-piece Oom Pah Pah Band, authentic Bavarian cuisine & imported beer and wine. The festivities kick off on Friday Night October 18th at 5pm.
Dine on fabulous Bavarian goodies and dance to music by the popular Harbour Towne Fest Band.
Time Warner Cable sponsors the childrens area with fun rides & entertainment on Saturday only 11am-6pm.
Volunteers are Needed ! Committees Forming Now!
To volunteeer: Call Julie Hale, at 762-4744 or julieth@capefearhabitat.org
Cape Fear Habitat for Humanity Annual Oktoberfest
When: October 17th 5pm - 9pm, October 18th 11am - 9pm
Where: on the rounds of Independence Mall Oleander Drive
Hope to see you there!
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Wilmington NC Real Estate Relocation Specialists serving Wilmington, Hampstead, Wrightsville Beach, Kure Beach, Carolina Beach, Leland, & Surf City, "Coast Home to North Carolina with Us!"
When you team with us as you Real Estate advisors, you can count on us to treat your transaction as if it were our own. We are not interested in "selling" you, but in facilitating transactions that are rewarding to you! Our mission is to offer you our in-depth knowledge of the local markets and current trends, open communication, honest feedback, diligent work ethic, genuine caring, and joy in the journey!
BUYERS: When we work together you can depend on us to provide the same V.I.P. treatment whether you are investing a million, or purchasing a starter home, we will work diligently to find the right home for you.
SELLERS: When you list with us you reap the benefits of The Sala Team’s Complimentary Professional Home Staging® Service! Ginger is one of only a handful of Accredited Staging Professional™ Realtors in all of Southeastern NC! As seen on HGTV, the practice of Staging Homes for sale is a hot commodity in California, and helps sell homes more quickly for a higher price. And now we are offering it with every listing as a value-added service!
INVESTORS: We are on top of the market trends and We can help find you the properties that best fit your personal investment goals!
RELOCATING to our awesome Cape Fear Region? We know about that first hand since we relocated to this amazing place from the cold and snowy Northeast. We feel so blessed to call Wilmington our home, and we would truly welcome the opportunity to share with you all that we know and love about our "Little Corner of Paradise!"
Wilmington, Hampstead, Wrightsville Beach, Carolina Beach, Kure Beach, Figure Eight Island, Surf City, Ogden, Porter's Neck, Leland, New Hanover County, Pender County, Brunswick County
It is truly a blessing to live here in Coastal North Carolina! We thank God every morning for the joy of living here. We love the Cape Fear Coast and all the wonderful people who make it their home. When people ask "Where would you live if you could live anywhere in the world"?, we have only one response... our "hometown" Wilmington, NC! If you are thinking of moving here, come on down, you will love it as much as we do! And if you are living here now, then you know what we are talking about!
Thanks for visiting with us today, we look forward to talking with you! 
Wilmington Area Resources
Wilmington NC Real Estate Blogs by Ginger Sala
The $8000 Tax Credit for New Home Buyers just got better!
The U.S. Housing and Urban Development today announced that the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) will now allow home buyers to apply the $8,000 first-time * home buyer tax credit toward the purchase price/closing costs of a FHA-insured home. Housing Secretary Donovan was very hopeful that this new rule action will help to stabilize housing markets by across the country by an increase if future home sales.
New Tax Credit Rules Can Help More Buyers
Originally the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 offered First Time Home Buyers a tax credit/refund of up to $8,000. The "old" guidelines allowed this credit to be received as a refund only after the Home Buyers filed tax returns with the IRS. The FHA's new rules allowing state Housing Finance Agencies and certain non-profits to "monetize" up to $8000 of the tax credit (which depends on the amount of the mortgage) so that borrowers can apply the funds toward their down payments.
Lower Monthly Payments Possible... Sound good?
First Time Home buyers * using FHA-approved lenders can apply the tax credit to their down payment in excess of 3.5 percent of appraised value or their closing costs, which can help achieve a lower interest rate.
Down Payment Requirements & Guidelines
Remember, Borrowers applying for an FHA-insured mortgage are still required to make a minimum 3.5 percent down payment on the purchase of their home. Current law does not permit approved lenders to monetize the tax credit to meet the required 3.5 percent minimum down payment, but, under the terms of today's announcement, lenders can now use the tax credit immediately as additional down payment, or for other closing costs, which can in effect create a lower interest rate & monthly payment. In addition to the borrower's own cash investment, FHA allows parents, employers and other governmental entities to contribute towards the down payment.
Projected Home Sales Expected to Climb with New Tax Credit
According to estimates by the National Association of Home Builders, the home buyer tax credit will stimulate 160,000 home sales, 101,000 of which will be first-time buyers who will receive the credit. Another 59,000 existing sellers will be able to buy another home because a first-time buyer purchased their home.
Buyer Beware! Scammers are on the Prowl!
Potential buyers should beware that their are all kinds of mortgage scammers out there, ready to pounce on the unsuspecting. It is crucial to consult with seasoned, respected financial services provider. The local Wilmington NC Area mortgage professionals that we recommend have the outstanding reputation, expertise, integrity & diligence, that every buyer deserves, and they are also FHA approved lenders.
Wilmington NC Homes for Sale
Are you ready to go shopping for your Wilmington NC area home with some Governments money? There are some terrific buys out there! Sellers are eager, prices are down, interests rates, according to the experts will not be going lower, and free money will only be available for a few more months!
Want to get moving??? Call us for more details & to see if you would like to team with us to help you achieve your goals! We'd love to show you what your money can buy. You just might be very surprised!
*Remember definition of first time home buyer is anyone who hasn't owned a home in the past 3 years!
©Ginger Sala, Keller Williams Realty, Wilmington NC Real Estate & Relocation Specialist: serving the Coastal North Carolina areas of Wilmington, Wrightsville Beach, Hampstead, Carolina Beach, Kure Beach, Topsail Island, Surf City & Leland. "Relocating from the cold Northeast to the sunny coast of Wilmington NC has been a dream come true for our family! We love Wilmington's beautiful beaches, outdoor lifestyle, vibrant cultural scene, friendly atmosphere, & down home, yet sophisticated environment. Wilmington NC Living truly has something for everyone!" Visit our website CoastHomeNorthCarolina.com for Wilmington NC Area Information, Wilmington NC Schools, Wilmington NC MLS listings! Click here to contact Ginger
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